Written Answers Thursday 11 August 2005

Scottish Executive

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of cases of (a) shoplifting, (b) domestic burglary, (c) non-domestic burglary, (d) theft from motor vehicle, (e) robbery, (f) fraud, (g) theft of motor vehicle, (h) stranger and acquaintance violence, (i) mugging, (j) murder, (k) culpable homicide and (l) deaths caused by driving have taken place when motivated by drug use in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Cathy Jamieson: Information on whether accused persons in homicide cases recorded by the police were under the influence of drugs has been collected since 2000. The available statistics are given in the table. Similar data for other types of crime are not collected centrally.

  Persons Accused in Homicide Cases1 Recorded as Being Under the Influence of Drugs, 2000-2003

  

 
2000
2001
2002
2003


 Number
 17
 21
 32
 36


 % of total accused2
 13
 14
 17
 26



  Notes:

  1. Currently (as at 10 November 2004) recorded as homicide.

  2. Total includes accused persons whose drug status was not known.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the murder rate per 1,000 of the population was in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the table.

  Victims of Homicide1,2 per 1,000 Population, by Police Force Area, 1999-2003

  

 Police Force Area
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003


 Central
 0.018
 0.011
 0.014
 0.021
 0.011


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0.020
 0.047
 0.041
 0.007
 0.014


 Fife
 0.003
 0.009
 0.006
 0.009
 0.003


 Grampian
 0.013
 0.023
 0.013
 0.013
 0.013


 Lothian and Borders
 0.019
 0.011
 0.015
 0.015
 0.019


 Northern
 0.004
 0.014
 0.018
 0.022
 0.007


 Strathclyde
 0.036
 0.027
 0.031
 0.037
 0.033


 Tayside
 0.010
 0.015
 0.013
 0.026
 0.008


 Scotland
 0.023
 0.021
 0.022
 0.025
 0.021



  Notes:

  1. Currently (as at 10 November 2004) recorded as homicide.

  2. The initial classification of a case as homicide is made by the police; it will generally be murder.

Multiple Sclerosis

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided for research into multiple sclerosis in each year since 1999.

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it intends to provide for research into multiple sclerosis in each of the remaining years of this parliamentary session.

Lewis Macdonald: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), within the Scottish Executive Health Department, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. CSO primarily responds to requests for funding research proposals initiated by the research community in Scotland and this role is well known and advertised throughout the healthcare and academic community.

  CSO has not funded any research into multiple sclerosis (MS) since 1999. This is due to the fact that no research proposals on MS have been received in recent years. CSO would be pleased to consider research proposals for innovative MS studies of a sufficiently high standard. These would be subject to the usual peer and committee review.

Olympic Games

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote the creation of a Scottish Olympic team.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether having a Scottish Olympic team would help attain the visions of Sport 21 and, in particular, achieving and sustaining world class performances in sport.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a Scottish Olympic team would help recognise and nurture sporting talent.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits would accrue to Scotland from having its own Olympic team.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive has no plans to explore the possibility of Scotland fielding its own team in the Olympics.

  Scottish athletes with the talent to reach GB squad membership gain from competing with and against athletes of a similar calibre. We believe that combining the strengths of all parts of Great Britain both offers a greater chance of international success and offers athletes the opportunity to train with a larger pool of world class competitors.

Olympic Games

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting each Olympic sport.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote the sports that make up the Commonwealth Games.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it takes advice on the promotion of sport from Scotland’s Olympians.

Patricia Ferguson: Sportscotland has a target of 148 Scottish medallists by 2007. Many of these will be achieved by athletes competing in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.  Sportscotland supports and invests in approximately 60 sports in Scotland which in turn use some of that investment to promote their individual sport to the public. Scottish athletes are used to promote their sport and sport in general through the Sporting Champions programme by making visits to schools to help inspire participation. The Executive takes advice on the promotion of sport from a range of people including current and former top athletes.

Olympic Games

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it will have in planning the games of the XXX Olympiad.

Patricia Ferguson: The responsibility for planning and organising the games of the XXX Olympiad will lie with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and the arrangements will be based on the proposals in London 2012’s candidature file.

Olympic Games

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many national sports bodies there are in Scotland which are recognised by the International Olympic Committee as being affiliated to the relevant international body.

Patricia Ferguson: This is a matter for the IOC but our understanding is that the IOC has no process for recognising national governing bodies of sport.

Olympic Games

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how Scotland can benefit from the games of the XXX Olympiad.

Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S2W-17561 and S2W-17564 answered on 18 July 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Olympic Games

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland to seek national Olympic committee status and, if so, how it will support the council in that aim.

Patricia Ferguson: The International Olympic Committee decides on which Olympic Committees it will recognise. The Scottish Executive has no plans to explore the possibility of Scotland having its own Olympic Committee.

  The remit of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland is specific to the Commonwealth Games and the Council is a member of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Schools

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which primary schools have (a) opened and (b) closed in each year since 1997.

Peter Peacock: The primary schools opened and closed in each year since 1997 are set out in the following tables. Both local authority and independent schools are included, as well as schools that have merged to form new schools or have moved site. The information has been derived from information collected annually by the Scottish Executive Education Department on the opening and closing of schools.

  Table 1: Primary Schools Opened, By Year

  

Education Authority Area
School


 1997
 


 Dundee City
 Sidlaw View Primary School


 Fife
 Bellyeoman Primary School


 1998
 


 Aberdeen City
 Newhills Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 St Margaret's School *


 1999
 


 Aberdeen City
 Charleston School


 Eilean Siar
 Lewis Independent Christian School *


 Glasgow City
 Iqra Academy *


 Glasgow City
 Glasgow Gaelic Primary School


 Inverclyde
 Cedars School of Excellence *


 North Lanarkshire
 Alexander Peden Primary


 2000
 


 Angus
 Rosemount Primary School


 Highland
 Strathpeffer Primary School


 North Ayrshire
 Lawthorn Primary School


 North Lanarkshire
 St Margaret of Scotland Primary School


 2001
 


 West Lothian
 Livingston Village Primary School


 2002
 


 Edinburgh City
 Craigroyston Primary School


 Highland
 Strathdearn Primary School


 Renfrewshire
 Living Waters School-Bellshill *


 West Lothian
 Linlithgow Bridge Primary School


 2003
 


 Edinburgh City
 Craigour Park Primary


 Edinburgh City
 Castleview Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Forthview Primary


 Fife
 Anstruther Primary School


 Highland
 Moray Firth School *


 North Lanarkshire
 St Andrew's Primary School 


 2004
 


 2005 (to date)
 


 Dundee City
 Claypotts Castle Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Currie Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Canal View Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Pentland Primary School


 West Lothian
 Cawburn Community Primary School



  Note: *Denotes Independent School.

  Table 2: Primary Schools Closed, By Year

  

Education Authority Area
School


 1997
 


 Aberdeenshire
 Fraserburgh Infant School


 Argyll & Bute
 Ardentinny Primary School


 Argyll & Bute
 Dalavich Primary School


 Argyll & Bute
 Kerrera Primary School


 Dumfries & Galloway
 Kilquhanity House School *


 Dundee City
 Gillburn Primary School


 Dundee City
 West March Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Levern Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Queenslie Primary School


 Glasgow City
 St Bonaventure's Primary School


 Highland
 Lieurary Primary School


 Highland
 Scotsburn Primary


 Moray
 Abbeylands School


 Moray
 The Green School *


 Scottish Borders
 Foulden Primary School


 Shetland Islands
 Haroldswick Primary School


 West Lothian
 Almondbank Primary School


 1998
 


 Aberdeen City
 The Hillocks School


 Aberdeen City
 Cloverfield School


 Aberdeen City
 Deeview Nursery/Infant School


 Aberdeen City
 Walker Dam Nursery/Infant School


 Aberdeenshire
 Greeness School


 Aberdeenshire
 Corgarff School


 Argyll & Bute
 St John's Episcopal Primary School


 Argyll & Bute
 Rashfield Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 St Denis and Cranley School *


 Edinburgh City
 St Margaret's School for Girls *


 Highland
 Kensaleyre Primary School


 Perth & Kinross
 Amulree Primary School


 Stirling
 Kinbuck Primary School


 Stirling
 Kinlochard Primary School


 1999
 


 Aberdeen City
 Kingswood Nursery/Infant School


 Aberdeenshire
 Crossroads School


 Aberdeenshire
 Glen Morven School *


 Angus
 The Sidlaw School *


 Argyll & Bute
 Park Lodge School *


 Argyll & Bute
 Portnahaven Primary School


 East Dunbartonshire
 Gask House School *


 Edinburgh City
 Craigmillar Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Torass Emess Jewish Day School *


 North Lanarkshire
 Benhar Primary School


 North Lanarkshire
 Harthill Primary School


 Perth & Kinross
 Edradour School *


2000
 


 Aberdeen City
 Ashgrove Children's Centre


 Aberdeenshire
 Maryculter East School


 Angus
 Craigo Primary School


 Angus
 Hillside Primary School


 Dumfries & Galloway
 Westerkirk School


 Dumfries & Galloway
 Auldgirth School


 East Dunbartonshire
 Atholl Preparatory School *


 Eilean Siar
 Manish Primary School


 Highland
 Loch Choire Primary


 Highland
 Contin Primary School


 Highland
 Fodderty Primary School


 Moray
 Boharm School


 Moray
 Edinville School


 Moray
 Glenrinnes School


 North Lanarkshire
 Glenhead Primary School


 North Lanarkshire
 Langlands Primary School


 North Lanarkshire
 Melrose Primary School


 North Lanarkshire
 Sacred Heart Primary School


 North Lanarkshire
 St Joseph's Primary School


 Orkney Islands
 Egilsay Primary School


 Perth & Kinross
 Croftinloan School *


 Scottish Borders
 Traquair Primary School


 West Dunbartonshire
 Keil School *


 West Dunbartonshire
 Keil Junior School *


 2001
 


 Angus
 St Vigean's Primary School


 Dumfries & Galloway
 Cademuir International School *


 Eilean Siar
 Fidigarry Primary School


 Eilean Siar
 Knockiandue Primary School


 Fife
 Kingdom Christian School *


 Glasgow City
 Laurel Park School *


 Highland
 Assynt Primary School


 Highland
 Glenborrodale Primary School


 West Lothian
 Abercorn Primary School


 2002
 


 Dumfries & Galloway
 All Souls RC Primary School


 Dumfries & Galloway
 Laurieston School


 Dumfries & Galloway
 St Cuthbert's RC School


 Edinburgh City
 Muirhouse Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Silverknowes Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Fernieside Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Moredun Primary School


 Eilean Siar
 Dunskellar Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Broadholm Primary School


 Glasgow City
 St Clare's Primary School


 Glasgow City
 St Pius' Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Hawthorn Primary School


 Glasgow City
 St Colette's Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Netherton Primary School


 Highland
 Moy Primary School


 Highland
 Raigbeg Primary School


 Perth & Kinross
 Rannoch School *


 2003
 


 Aberdeen City
 Greenfern Nursery/Infant School


 Aberdeenshire
 Kildrummy School


 Argyll & Bute
 Newton Primary School


 Dumfries & Galloway
 Corsock School


 Edinburgh City
 Greendykes Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Peffermill Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Craigmuir Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Inchview Primary School


 Fife
 Cellardyke Primary School


 Fife
 Anstruther Wester Primary School


 Fife
 Inchkeith School *


 Glasgow City
 Iqra Academy *


 Highland
 Dulchreichard Primary School


 Perth & Kinross
 Butterstone School *


 Renfrewshire
 Living Waters Christian School *


 2004
 


 Angus
 Careston Primary School


 Argyll & Bute
 Bridge Of Orchy Primary


 Dumfries & Galloway
 Dundrennan School


 Edinburgh City
 Orwell Primary School


 Glasgow City
 London Road Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Leithland Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Braeside Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Lochgoin Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Ruchazie Primary School


 Glasgow City
 St Philip's Primary School


 Glasgow City
 St Julie's Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Springfield Primary School


 Glasgow City
 St Elizabeth Seton Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Lamlash Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Littlehill Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Bonnyholm Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Barrowfield Primary School


 Highland
 Achnasheen Primary School


 Inverclyde
 Holy Cross Primary School


 Inverclyde
 St Mungo's Primary School


 Inverclyde
 Springfield Primary School


 Inverclyde
 Boglestone Primary School


 Inverclyde
 Holy Family Primary School


 Midlothian
 Howgate Primary School


 Moray
 Aberlour House Preparatory School *


 Perth & Kinross
 St Fillans Primary School


 Scottish Borders
 Oxnam Primary School


 Scottish Borders
 Teviothead Primary School


 Scottish Borders
 Cranshaws Primary School


 Shetland Islands
 Quarff Primary School


 Stirling
 Holy Trinity Episcopal Primary School


 West Dunbartonshire
 Milton Primary School


 2005 (to date)
 


 Angus
 Dun Primary School


 Dumfries & Galloway
 Wamphray School


 Edinburgh City
 Comiston Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Dumbryden Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Hailesland Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Hunter's Tryst Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Curriehill Primary School


 Edinburgh City
 Riccarton Primary School


 Eilean Siar
 Berneray Primary School


 Fife
 Kemback Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Holmlea Primary School


 Glasgow City
 St Margaret Mary's Primary School


 Glasgow City
 Simshill Primary School


 Highland
 Soay Primary School


 Inverclyde
 King's Glen Primary School


 North Lanarkshire
 St James' Primary School


 Scottish Borders
 Glen Douglas Primary School


 Scottish Borders
 Burnmouth Primary School


 Scottish Borders
 Hutton Primary School


 West Lothian
 Pumpherston Primary School


 West Lothian
 Uphall Station Infant School



  Note: *Denotes Independent School.

Schools

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which secondary schools have (a) opened and (b) closed in each year since 1997.

Peter Peacock: The secondary schools opened and closed in each year since 1997 are set out in the following tables. Both local authority and independent schools are included, as well as schools that have merged to form new schools or have moved site. The information has been derived from information collected annually by the Scottish Executive Education Department on the opening and closing of schools.

  Table 1: Secondary Schools Opened, By Year

  

 Education Authority Area
 School


 1997
 


 Dundee City
 Baldragon Academy


 1998
 


 East Ayrshire
 St Joseph's Academy


 Edinburgh City
 St Margaret's School *


 Highland
 Scoraig Secondary School *


 1999
 


 Inverclyde
 Cedars School of Excellence *


 2001
 


 Dundee City
 Imam Muhammad Zakariya School *


 2002
 


 Aberdeenshire
 Meldrum Academy


 Highland
 Ardnamurchan High School


 2003
 


 Glasgow City
 Iqra Academy *


 2004
 


 Aberdeen City
 Springvale Education Trust *


 Falkirk
 Oakwood Education Trust *


 Fife
 Osborne House School *


 2005 (to date)
 


 South Lanarkshire
 St Andrew's and St Bride's High School



  Note: *Denotes Independent School.

  Table 2: Secondary Schools Closed, By Year

  

Education Authority Area
School


1997
 


Dumfries & Galloway
Kilquhanity House School *


Dundee City
Kirkton High School


Dundee City
Rockwell High School


Glasgow City
John Bosco Secondary School


1998
 


East Ayrshire
St Joseph's Academy- Kilmarnock Campus


East Ayrshire
St Joseph's Academy- Cumnock Campus


Edinburgh City
St Denis and Cranley School *


Edinburgh City
St Margaret's School for Girls *


Glasgow City
St Gerard's Secondary School


Glasgow City
Garthamlock Secondary School


Glasgow City
North Kelvinside Secondary School


Glasgow City
St Augustine's Secondary School


Glasgow City
St Leonard's Secondary School


Glasgow City
John Street Secondary School


Glasgow City
Victoria Drive Secondary School


Moray
Moray Steiner School *


1999
 


Glasgow City
Crookston Castle Secondary School


Glasgow City
Woodside Secondary School


Perth & Kinross
Edradour School *


2000
 


Perth & Kinross
Croftinloan School *


West Dunbartonshire
Keil School *


2001
 


Fife
Kingdom Christian School *


Glasgow City
Laurel Park School *


Renfrewshire
St Mirin's High School


2002
 


Aberdeen City
Linksfield Academy


Eilean Siar
Lews Castle School


Perth & Kinross
Rannoch School *


Renfrewshire
Merksworth High School


2003
 


Glasgow City
Glasgow Steiner School *


Glasgow City
Iqra Academy *


Perth & Kinross
Butterstone School *


Renfrewshire
Living Waters Christian School *


2004
 


Highland
Scoraig Secondary School *


Moray
Aberlour House Preparatory School *


2005 (to date)
 


South Lanarkshire
Ballerup High School


South Lanarkshire
St Bride's High School


South Lanarkshire
St Andrew's High School



  Note:*Denotes Independent School.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost of a hotel room used by Executive officials visiting Brussels was in 2004-05.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information is not held by the Scottish Executive in the format requested. Scottish Executive officials staying overnight in Brussels are set a single financial limit to cover bed, breakfast and all meals in a 24 hour period. In the period from April 2004 to 31 December 2004 the allowance for Scottish Executive officials visiting Brussels on official business was 226 euros (£155.96) and from 1 January 2005 to date, 211 euros (£145.61). From 1 June 2004 all claims submitted are paid on production of the appropriate receipts.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the highest price paid for a hotel room used by Executive officials visiting Brussels has been since 1997.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Executive.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has paid for hotel rooms and associated expenses in respect of EU-related visits in each year since 1997 and how many officials attended such visits in each year.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information is not held by the Scottish Executive in the format requested.

Sport

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether immigration rules inhibit the bringing of major sporting events to Scotland.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any future Scottish bid for the Commonwealth Games would be hampered by immigration rules.

Patricia Ferguson: Immigration is a reserved matter for which the Home Office is responsible. However, there is no evidence to suggest that immigration rules inhibit our ability to attract major events to Scotland. Applications for entry into the United Kingdom are dealt with on a case by case basis under the immigration rules and, in relation to events, ensuring that participants have applied for entry is the responsibility for the event organiser concerned.

Teachers

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of people recruited to teach (a) science, (b) mathematics and (c) modern languages were from (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) the European Union and (iii) other overseas nations in each year from 1994 to 2004.

Peter Peacock: Local authorities are responsible for the recruitment of teachers in their areas. Information on the areas of origin of newly recruited teachers is not held centrally.